Matthew 27:7

τὸν�.τ.λ. Tradition places Aceldama (Acts 1:19) in the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. The Athenians also had their κεραμεικός, the Potters’ Quarter, in the most beautiful suburb of their city, where the illustrious dead were buried.

τοῖς ξένοις. i.e. for the Jews of the dispersion, Hellenists and proselytes. It is a note of the exclusiveness of those Jews whose home was still the Holy Land, that a plot of ground should be set apart for the burial of all who were not par excellence Hebrews. See Philippians 3:5.

At the time of the Passover, when hundreds of thousands were crowded in a confined space, the question of burying strangers was doubtless urgent.